Cosmetic compositions containing liposoluble polymers and tackifiers

A cosmetic composition containing: (a) at least one tackifier component having a solubility parameter corresponding to δ; (b) at least one liposoluble polymer having at least one segment with a solubility parameter corresponding to δ+2; (c) at least one solvent; and (d) optionally, at least one colorant.

The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/US2006/026310, filed Jul. 7, 2006, published in English, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/698,875, filed Jul. 13, 2005. The disclosures of all of said applications are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been many developments in connection with improving comfort, wear and/or longevity of cosmetic compositions for the face, eye, lips nails or hair. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,258 is directed to eye make-up compositions comprising water insoluble polymeric material in the form of an aqueous emulsion and a water-soluble, film-forming polymer that are intended to improve wear benefits. U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,054 teaches a composition for application to the lips comprising silicone resins and dimethicone gums of high viscosity. U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,967 teaches the use of specific polyolefin waxes in mascara and eyebrow compositions to improve application, comfort and wear. U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,306 discloses transfer free compositions with block copolymers and additional film formers. Mixtures of waxes have been used to combine properties such as film hardness and adhesion to the lash. See, e.g. WO95/15741.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) at least one tackifier component having a solubility parameter corresponding to δ;

(b) at least one liposoluble polymer having at least one segment with a solubility parameter corresponding to δ±2;

(c) at least one solvent; and

(d) optionally, at least one colorant, with the proviso that, if the cosmetic composition is a waterproof mascara, and the at least one liposoluble polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer having a styrene content of greater than about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the elastomer, then the composition also contains at least one solvent or functional ingredient capable of dissolving a styrene block, and with the proviso that if the composition is not a makeup product, and the at least one tackifier is a C2-6 polyolefin having a number average molecular weight of from 3,000 to 150,000, and the at least one liposoluble polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer, and the composition contains at least one oil chosen from mineral and synthetic oils, then the thermoplastic elastomer is present in the composition in an amount ranging from greater than about 0.6 to about 60% by weight, based on the weight of the oil.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of treating a keratinous substrate by contacting the substrate with the above-disclosed cosmetic composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a line graph showing the creep and recovery compliance curves of a composition in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a line graph showing the creep viscosity, as a function of time, of a composition in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients and/or reaction conditions are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”.

The phrase “liquid- to paste-form” means that the composition has a measurable creep viscosity at 25° C.

The term “solid-form” means that the composition fails to have a measurable creep viscosity at 25° C.

Liposoluble polymers useful in the present invention include, for example, those having at least one copolymer corresponding to formula (I):

wherein: R1 is chosen from linear and branched saturated hydrocarbon-based chains containing from 1 to 19 carbon atoms; R2 is a group chosen from: a) —O—CO—R4, wherein R4 is chosen from linear and branched saturated hydrocarbon-based chains containing from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R4 is different from R1 in the same at least one copolymer, b) —CH2—R5, wherein R5 is chosen from linear and branched, saturated hydrocarbon-based chains containing from 5 to 25 carbon atoms, c) —O—R6, wherein R6 is chosen from saturated hydrocarbon-based chains containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and d) —CH2—O—CO—R7, wherein R7 is chosen from linear and branched, saturated hydrocarbon-based chains containing from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, and R3 is chosen from: (1) a hydrogen atom when R2 is chosen from the groups a), b) and c), and (2) a methyl group when R2 is a group d), wherein the at least one copolymer comprises at least 15% by weight of at least one unit chosen from (Ia) and (Ib) wherein the saturated and branched hydrocarbon-based chains contain at least 7 carbon atoms.

The at least one copolymer of formula (I) is formed by the copolymerization of at least one vinyl ester (corresponding to the unit (Ia)) and of at least one other monomer (corresponding to the unit (Ib)) which may be chosen from α-olefins, alkyl vinyl ethers, allylic esters and methallylic esters.

When, in the unit (Ib), R2 is chosen from the groups —CH2—R5, —O—R6, and —CH2—O—CO—R7 as defined above, the at least one copolymer of formula (I) may comprise from 50 mol % to 95 mol % of at least one unit (Ia) and from 5 mol % to 50 mol % of at least one unit (Ib).

The at least one copolymer of formula (I) may also result from the copolymerization of at least one vinyl ester and of at least one other vinyl ester which is different from the first vinyl ester. In this case, these copolymers may comprise, for example, from 10 mol % to 90 mol % of at least one unit (Ia) and from 10 mol % to 90 mol % of at least one unit (Ib), wherein R2 is a group —O—CO—R4.

Among the vinyl esters leading to the unit chosen from formula (Ia), and formula (Ib) wherein R2 is a group —O—CO—R4, mention may be made of those chosen, for example, from vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butanoate, vinyl octanoate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl laurate, vinyl stearate, vinyl isostearate, vinyl 2,2-dimethyloctanoate and vinyl dimethylpropionate.

Among the α-olefins leading to the unit of formula (Ib), wherein R2 is a group —CH2-R5, mention may be made of those chosen, for example, from 1-octene, 1-dodecene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene, and mixtures of α-olefins containing from 22 to 28 carbon atoms.

Among the alkyl vinyl ethers leading to the unit of formula (Ib), wherein R2 is a group —O—R6, mention may be made of those chosen, for example, from ethyl vinyl ether, n-butyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, decyl vinyl ether, dodecyl vinyl ether, cetyl vinyl ether, and octadecyl vinyl ether.

Among the allylic and methallylic esters leading to the unit of formula (Ib), wherein R2 is a group —CH2-O—CO—R7, mention may be made of those chosen, for example, from allyl acetates, methallyl acetates, propionates, dimethylpropionates, butyrates, hexanoates, octanoates, decanoates, laurates, 2,2-dimethylpentanoates, stearates, and eicosanoates.

Liposoluble film-forming polymers which may also be mentioned are chosen, for example, from liposoluble homopolymers, such as those resulting from the homopolymerization of a vinyl ester containing from 9 to 22 carbon atoms, alkyl acrylates and alkyl methacrylates, wherein the alkyl groups contain from 10 to 20 carbon atoms.

Such liposoluble homopolymers may be chosen, for example, from polyvinyl stearate, polystearyl (meth)acrylate, polyvinyl laurate, and polylauryl (meth) acrylate.

The liposoluble copolymers and homopolymers defined above are known and are disclosed, for example, in patent application FR-A-2 232 303; incorporated by reference, herein. They may have a weight-average molecular weight ranging from 2000 to 500,000, such as, for example, from 4000 to 200,000.

As liposoluble polymers which may be used in the invention, mention may also be made of polyalkylenes, for example, (C2-C20)alkylene copolymers, other than the polyolefin wax defined in a) of formula (I), chosen, for example, from polybutene, alkylcelluloses with optionally saturated, linear and branched (C1-C8)alkyl groups (such as, for example, ethyl cellulose and propyl cellulose), vinylpyrrolidone (VP) copolymers, such as, for example, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and (C2-C40)alkenes such as, (C3-C20)alkenes. Non-limiting examples of VP copolymers which may be used in the invention, include VP/vinyl acetate, VP/ethyl methacrylate, butylated polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), VP/ethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid, VP/eicosene, VP/hexadecene, VP/triacontene, VP/styrene, and VP/acrylic acid/lauryl methacrylate copolymer.

Thermoplastic elastomers may also be used as liposoluble polymers in the present invention having at least two thermodynamically incompatible segments, namely a “thermoplastic” or “hard” segment, and an “elastomeric” or “soft” segment. Aside from their compositional nature, hard and soft segments differ in terms of their glass transition temperatures, “Tg”. More particularly, the hard segment has a Tg of at least about 50° C. whereas the soft segment has a Tg of at or below about −10° C. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,294,438 and 6,403,070.

Thermoplastic elastomers useful in the present invention are block copolymers e.g., di-block, tri-block, multi-block, radial and star block copolymers, and mixtures and blends thereof. A di-block thermoplastic elastomer is usually defined as an A-B type or a hard segment (A) followed by a soft segment (B) in sequence. A tri-block is usually defined as an A-B-A type copolymer or a ratio of one hard, one soft, and one hard segment. Multi-block or radial block or star block thermoplastic elastomers usually contain any combination of hard and soft segments, provided that the elastomers possess both hard and soft characteristics.

In some embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer of the present invention may be chosen from the class of Kraton™ rubbers (Shell Chemical Company) or from similar thermoplastic elastomers. Kraton™ rubbers are thermoplastic elastomers in which the polymer chains comprise a di-block, tri-block, multi-block or radial or star block configuration or numerous mixtures thereof. The Kraton™ tri-block rubbers have polystyrene (hard) segments on each end of a rubber (soft) segment, while the Kraton™ di-block rubbers have a polystyrene (hard) segment attached to a rubber (soft) segment. The Kraton™ radial or star configuration may be a four-point or other multipoint star made of rubber with a polystyrene segment attached to each end of a rubber segment. The configuration of each of the Kraton™ rubbers form separate polystyrene and rubber domains.

Each molecule of Kraton™ rubber is said to comprise block segments of styrene monomer units and rubber monomer and/or co-monomer units. The most common structure for the Kraton™ triblock copolymer is the linear A-B-A block type styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylenepropylene-styrene, or styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene. The Kraton™ di-block is preferably the AB block type such as styrene-ethylenepropylene, styrene-ethylenebutylene, styrene-butadiene, or styrene-isoprene. The Kraton™ rubber configuration is well known in the art and any block copolymer elastomer with a similar configuration is within the practice of the invention. Other block copolymers are sold under the tradename Septon (which represent elastomers known as SEEPS, sold by Kurary, Co., Ltd) and those sold by Exxon Dow under the tradename Vector™.

Other thermoplastic elastomers useful in the present invention include those block copolymer elastomers comprising a styrene-butylene/ethylene-styrene copolymer (tri-block), an ethylene/propylene-styrene copolymer (radial or star block) or a mixture or blend of the two. (Some manufacturers refer to block copolymers as hydrogenated block copolymers, e.g. hydrogenated styrene-butylene/ethylene-styrene copolymer (tri-block).)

The thermoplastic elastomers according to the invention may be chosen from adhesives of “pressure-sensitive adhesive” type for example, such as those mentioned in the “Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Technology” 3rd Edition, D. Satas, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The thermoplastic elastomers according to the invention may also be adhesive polymers chosen from polyurethanes, ethylene/vinyl acetate polymers, and blends thereof.

The thermoplastic elastomers of the present invention are typically employed in gelled form. By the term “gelled,” it is meant that the block copolymer is dissolved in a solvent. The block copolymer is formulated by dissolving it in a solvent such as oils, hydrocarbon solvents and esters. Hydrocarbons useful in the practice of the invention include but are not limited to mineral oils, mineral solvents, mineral spirits, petroleum, waxes, synthetic hydrocarbons, animal oils, vegetable oils, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the block copolymer is formulated by dissolving the block copolymer in isododecane or a light paraffinic solvent. Specific examples of thermoplastic elastomers in gelled form include, but are not limited to, Versagel M5960 and Versagel M5970, commercially available from Penreco of Houston Tex., as well as those from Brooks Industries, such as Gel Base (e.g., Code 05895, which is a styrene-ethylene/propylene mixed block copolymer already in combination with a solvent, namely isododecane).

The thermoplastic elastomer may be formed by dissolving a block copolymer in a non-hydrocarbon solvent such as amyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate or isopropyl acetate. The solvent and solubility conditions for formulating a block copolymer film former from a block copolymer will be chosen by a person skilled in the art in order to prepare a composition which has the desired properties. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to determine the solubility parameters and choose a solvent based on the block copolymer chosen for the envisaged application. More information regarding solubility parameters and solvents useful in the processing of specific block copolymers is available from the various manufacturers of block copolymers, e.g., Shell Chemical Company. Additional discussions of polymer solubility parameter concepts are presented in: Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 3, Interscience, New York (1965) and Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Supp. Vol., Interscience, New York (1971).

In some embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer is a tri-block rubber elastomer. The tri-block rubber elastomer can be styrene ethylene/butylene tri-block copolymers. Representative examples of styrene ethylene/butylene tri-block copolymers are KRATON G polymers, e.g. KRATON G1657M, commercially available from Shell.

The amounts of the block (co)polymer or (copolymers, as well as their structure (di-block, tri-block, etc.), affect the nature of the thermoplastic elastomer, including its gelled form, which may range from fragile to soft/flexible to firm. For instance, soft gels contain relatively high amounts of soft segments, and firm gels contain relatively high amounts of hard segments. The overall properties of the composition may also be affected by including more than one such block copolymer e.g., including a mixture of copolymers. For example, the presence of tri-block copolymers enhances the integrity of the film formed. The gel may also be transparent, translucent or opaque, depending upon the other cosmetically acceptable ingredients added, as described herein. Persons skilled in the art will be able to determine amounts of the block co-polymer and choose additional ingredients based on the final form of the cosmetic product. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,009 (eyelash compositions); U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,082 (sticks); U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,072 (transfer-resistant, color compositions); U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,299 (rinse-off skin conditioner); U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,070 (anhydrous deodorant compositions); U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,306 (transfer-free cosmetics); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,438 (lubricating and moisturizing shaving preparations).

It should be noted that when formulating a waterproof mascara, in the event that a thermoplastic elastomer containing styrene monomers is chosen as the at least one liposoluble polymer, it is preferred that the styrene content of the thermoplastic elastomer be less than 30% by weight, preferably less than 25% by weight, and most preferably less than 20% by weight, based on the weight of the thermoplastic elastomer. This is because of the tendency of thermoplastic elastomers having a styrene content of greater than 30% by weight to harden/gel in conventional carrier systems. However, in the event that a thermoplastic elastomer having a styrene content of greater than 30% by weight is used, it will be necessary to also employ a solvent or functional ingredient capable of dissolving a styrene block in an amount effective to control the hardening/gelling of the styrene-containing elastomer in the cosmetic composition.

The at least one liposoluble polymer may also be chosen from a polyamide comprising a polymer skeleton comprising at least one amide repeating unit and optionally at least one pendant fatty chain and/or at least one terminal chain that are optionally functionalized and comprise from 8 to 120 carbon atoms, bonded to at least one of the amide repeating units via at least one linking group. The pendant fatty chains may be linked to at least one of the nitrogen atoms in the amide repeating units.

The polyamide polymer may have a weight-average molecular mass of less than 100,000, such as less than 50,000. In another embodiment, the weight-average molecular mass may range from 1000 to 30,000, such as from 2000 to 20,000, further such as from 2000 to 10,000.

A polyamide polymer may comprise, for example, a polymer skeleton which comprises at least one amide repeating unit, i.e., a polyamide skeleton. In one embodiment, the polyamide skeleton may further comprise at least one terminal fatty chain chosen from alkyl chains, for example, alkyl chains comprising at least four carbon atoms, and alkenyl chains, for example, alkenyl chains comprising at least four carbon atoms, bonded to the at least one polyamide skeleton via at least one linking group, and/or at least one pendant fatty chain chosen from alkyl chains, for example, alkyl chains comprising at least four carbon atoms, and alkenyl chains, for example, alkenyl chains comprising at least four carbon atoms, bonded to the at least one polyamide skeleton via at least one linking group. In one embodiment, the polyamide skeleton may comprise at least one terminal fatty chain chosen from fatty chains comprising 8 to 120 carbon atoms, such as, for example, 12 to 68 carbon atoms, bonded to the at least one polyamide skeleton via at least one linking group and/or at least one pendant fatty chain chosen from fatty chains comprising 8 to 120 carbon atoms, such as, for example, 12 to 68 carbon atoms, bonded to the at least one polyamide skeleton via at least one linking group, such as bonded to any carbon or nitrogen of the polyamide skeleton via the at least one linking group. In one embodiment, the at least one linking group is chosen from single bonds and urea, urethane, thiourea, thiourethane, thioether, thioester, ester, ether and amine groups. For example, the at least one linking group is chosen from ureas, esters, and amines, and as a further example, is chosen from esters and amines. The bond is, for example, an ester bond. In one embodiment, these polymers comprise a fatty chain at each end of the polymer skeleton, such as the polyamide skeleton.

In one embodiment, due to the presence of at least one chain, the polyamide polymers may be readily soluble in oils (i.e., water-immiscible liquid compounds) and thus may give macroscopically homogeneous compositions even with a high content (at least 25%) of the polyamide polymers, unlike certain polymers of the prior art that do not contain such alkyl or alkenyl chains at the end of the polyamide skeleton. As defined herein, a composition is soluble if it has a solubility of greater than 0.01 g per 100 ml of solution at 25° C.

In a further embodiment, the polyamide polymers can be chosen from polymers resulting from at least one polycondensation reaction between at least one acid chosen from dicarboxylic acids comprising at least 32 carbon atoms, such as 32 to 44 carbon atoms, and at least one amine chosen from diamines comprising at least 2 carbon atoms, such as from 2 to 36 carbon atoms, and triamines comprising at least 2 carbon atoms, such as from 2 to 36 carbon atoms. The dicarboxylic acids can, for example, be chosen from dimers of at least one fatty acid comprising at least 16 carbon atoms, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. The at least one amine can, for example, be chosen from diamines, such as ethylenediamine, hexylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, phenylenediamine and triamines, such as ethylenetriamine.

The polyamide polymers may also be chosen from polymers comprising at least one terminal carboxylic acid group. The at least one terminal carboxylic acid group can, for example, be esterified with at least one alcohol chosen from monoalcohols comprising at least 4 carbon atoms. For example, the at least one alcohol can be chosen from monoalcohols comprising from 10 to 36 carbon atoms. In a further embodiment, the monoalcohols can comprise from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, such as from 16 to 24 carbon atoms, and for example 18 carbon atoms.

In one embodiment, the polyamide polymer may be chosen from those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,657, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which are polymers of formula (I):

in which:

n is an integer which represents the number of amide units such that the number of ester groups present in said at least one polyamide polymer ranges from 10% to 50% of the total number of all said ester groups and all said amide groups comprised in said at least one polyamide polymer;

R1, which are identical or different, are each chosen from alkyl groups comprising at least 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl groups comprising at least 4 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the alkyl group comprises from 4 to 24 carbon atoms and the alkenyl group comprises from 4 to 24 carbon atoms;

R2, which are identical or different, are each chosen from C4 to C42 hydrocarbon-based groups with the proviso that at least 50% of all R2 are chosen from C30 to C42 hydrocarbon-based groups;

R3, which are identical or different, are each chosen from organic groups comprising atoms chosen from carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms with the proviso that R3 comprises at least 2 carbon atoms; and

R4, which are identical or different, are each chosen from hydrogen atoms, C1 to C10 alkyl groups and a direct bond to at least one group chosen from R3 and another R4 such that when said at least one group is chosen from another R4, the nitrogen atom to which both R3 and R4 are bonded forms part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R4—N—R3, with the proviso that at least 50% of all R4 are chosen from hydrogen atoms.

In one embodiment, the at least one terminal fatty chain of formula (I) is linked to the last hetero atom, in this case nitrogen, of the polyamide skeleton. In a further embodiment, the terminal chains are functionalized. In another embodiment, the ester groups of formula (I), are linked to the terminal and/or pendant fatty chains, represent from 15% to 40% of the total number of ester and amide groups, such as, for example, from 20% to 35%.

In one embodiment, n may be an integer ranging from 1 to 5, for example, an integer ranging from 3 to 5. In the present invention, R1, which are identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from C12 to C22 alkyl groups, such as from C16 to C22 alkyl groups.

R2, which are identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from C10 to C42 alkyl groups. At least 50% of all R2, which are identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from groups comprising from 30 to 42 carbon atoms. At least 75% of all R2, which are identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from groups comprising from 30 to 42 carbon atoms. In the two aforementioned embodiments, the remaining R2, which are identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from C4 to C19 groups, such as C4 to C12 groups.

R3, which can be identical or different, can, for example, each be chosen from C2 to C36 hydrocarbon-based groups and polyoxyalkylene groups. In another example, R3, which can be identical or different, can each, for example, be chosen from C2 to C12 hydrocarbon-based groups. In another embodiment, R4, which can be identical or different, can each be chosen from hydrogen atoms. As used herein, hydrocarbon-based groups may be chosen from linear, cyclic and branched, and saturated and unsaturated groups. The hydrocarbon-based groups can be chosen from aliphatic and aromatic groups. In one example, the hydrocarbon-based groups are chosen from aliphatic groups. The alkyl and alkylene groups may be chosen from linear, cyclic and branched, and saturated and unsaturated groups.

In general, the pendant and terminal fatty chains may be chosen from linear, cyclic and branched, and saturated and unsaturated groups. The pendant and terminal fatty chains can be chosen from aliphatic and aromatic groups. In one example, the pendant and terminal fatty chains are chosen from aliphatic groups.

The polyamide polymer of formula (I) may, for example, be in the form of a mixture of polymers, and this mixture may also comprise a compound of formula (I) wherein n is equal to zero, i.e., a diester.

Non-limiting examples of polyamide polymers which may be used in the composition according to the present invention include the commercial products sold by Arizona Chemical under the names Uniclear 80 and Uniclear 100. These are sold, respectively, in the form of an 80% (in terms of active material) gel in a mineral oil and a 100% (in terms of active material) gel. These polymers have a softening point ranging from 88_C to 94_C, and may be mixtures of copolymers derived from monomers of (I) C36 diacids and (ii) ethylenediamine, and have a weight-average molecular mass of about 6000. Terminal ester groups result from esterification of the remaining acid end groups with at least one alcohol chosen from cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. A mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols is sometimes called cetylstearyl alcohol.

Other non-limiting examples of at least one polyamide polymer which may be used in the composition according to the present invention include polyamide polymers resulting from the condensation of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and at least one diamine, the carbonyl and amine groups being condensed via an amide bond. Examples of these polyamide polymers are those sold under the brand name Versamid by the companies General Mills Inc. and Henkel Corp. (Versamid 930, 744 or 1655) or by the company Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. under the brand name Onamid, in particular Onamid S or C. These resins have a weight-average molecular mass ranging from 6000 to 9000. For further information regarding these polyamides, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,645,705 and 3,148,125, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Other examples of polyamides include those sold by the company Arizona Chemical under the references Uni-Rez (2658, 2931, 2970, 2621, 2613, 2624, 2665, 1554, 2623 and 2662) and the product sold under the reference Macromelt 6212 by the company Henkel. For further information regarding these polyamides, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,209, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such polyamides display high melt viscosity characteristics. MACROMELT 6212, for example, has a high melt viscosity at 190° C. of 3040 poise (as measured by a Brookfield Viscometer, Model RVF #3 spindle, 20 RPM).

In a further embodiment, the polyamide polymer may be chosen from polyamide resins from vegetable sources. Polyamide resins from vegetable sources may be chosen from, for example, the polyamide resins of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,783,657 and 5,998,570, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Suitable liposoluble polymers for use in the present invention also include polymers of the polyorganosiloxane type such as those described in documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,069, U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,441, U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,216 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,680, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

These liposoluble polymers may belong to the following two families:

a) polyorganosiloxanes comprising at least two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, these two groups being located in the polymer chain; and/or

b) polyorganosiloxanes comprising at least two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, these two groups being located on grafts or branches.

They are solids that may be dissolved beforehand in a solvent with hydrogen interaction capable of breaking the hydrogen interactions of the polymers, for instance C2 to C8 lower alcohols and especially ethanol, n-propanol or isopropanol, before being placed in the presence of the silicone oils according to the invention. It is also possible to use these hydrogen interaction “breaking” solvents as co-solvents. These solvents may then be stored in the composition or may be removed by selective evaporation, which is well known to those skilled in the art.

The polymers comprising two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions in the polymer chain may be polymers comprising at least one moiety corresponding to the formula:

in which:

1) R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, represent a group chosen from:

linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, C1 to C40 hydrocarbon-based groups, possibly containing in their chain one or more oxygen, sulphur and/or nitrogen atoms, and possibly being partially or totally substituted with fluorine atoms,

C6 to C10 aryl groups, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C4 alkyl groups,

2) the groups X, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched C1 to C30 alkylenediyl group, possibly containing in its chain one or more oxygen and/or nitrogen atoms;

3) Y is a saturated or unsaturated, C1 to C50 linear or branched divalent alkylene, arylene, cycloalkylene, alkylarylene or arylalkylene group, possibly comprising one or more oxygen, sulphur and/or nitrogen atoms, and/or bearing as substituent one of the following atoms or groups of atoms: fluorine, hydroxyl, C3 to C8 cycloalkyl, C1 to C40 alkyl, C5 to C10 aryl, phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 C1 to C3 alkyl groups, C1 to C3 hydroxyalkyl and C1 to C6 aminoalkyl, or

4) Y represents a group corresponding to the formula:

in which

T represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C3 to C24 trivalent or tetravalent hydrocarbon-based group optionally substituted with a polyorganosiloxane chain, and possibly containing one or more atoms chosen from O, N and S, or T represents a trivalent atom chosen from N, P and Al, and

R5 represents a linear or branched C1 to C50 alkyl group or a polyorganosiloxane chain, possibly comprising one or more ester, amide, urethane, thiocarbamate, urea, thiourea and/or sulphonamide groups, which may be linked to another chain of the polymer,

5) the groups G, which may be identical or different, represent divalent groups chosen from:

in which R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched C1 to C20 alkyl group, on condition that at least 50% of the groups R6 of the polymer represents a hydrogen atom and that at least two of the groups G of the polymer are a group other than:

6) n is an integer ranging from 2 to 500 and preferably from 2 to 200, and m is an integer ranging from 1 to 1 000, preferably from 1 to 700 and better still from 6 to 200.

According to the invention, 80% of the groups R1, R2, R3 and R4 of the polymer are preferably chosen from methyl, ethyl, phenyl and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl groups.

According to the invention, Y can represent various divalent groups, furthermore optionally comprising one or two free valencies to establish bonds with other moieties of the polymer or copolymer. Preferably, Y represents a group chosen from:

d) phenylene groups optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C40 alkyl groups,

e) C1 to C20 alkylene groups comprising from 1 to 5 amide groups,

f) C1 to C20 alkylene groups comprising one or more substituents chosen from hydroxyl, C3 to C8 cycloalkane, C1 to C3 hydroxyalkyl and C1 to C6 alkylamine groups,

g) polyorganosiloxane chains of formula:

in which R1, R2, R3, R4, T and m are as defined above, and

h) polyorganosiloxane chains of formula:

The polyorganosiloxanes of the second family may be polymers comprising at least one moiety corresponding to formula (II):

in which

R1 and R3, which may be identical or different, are as defined above for formula (I),

R7 represents a group as defined above for R1 and R3, or represents a group of formula —X—G—R9 in which X and G are as defined above for formula (I) and R9 represents a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, C1 to C50 hydrocarbon-based group optionally comprising in its chain one or more atoms chosen from O, S and N, optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms and/or one or more hydroxyl groups, or a phenyl group optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C4 alkyl groups,

R8 represents a group of formula —X—G—R9 in which X, G and R9 are as defined above,

m1 is an integer ranging from 1 to 998, and

m2 is an integer ranging from 2 to 500.

According to the invention, the polymer used as gelling agent may be a homopolymer, that is to say a polymer comprising several identical moieties, in particular moieties of formula (I) or of formula (II).

According to the invention, it is also possible to use a polymer consisting of a copolymer comprising several different moieties of formula (I), that is to say a polymer in which at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3, R4, X, G, Y, m and n is different in one of the moieties. The copolymer may also be formed from several moieties of formula (II), in which at least one of the groups R1, R3, R7, R8, m1 and m2 is different in at least one of the moieties.

It is also possible to use a copolymer comprising at least one moiety of formula (I) and at least one moiety of formula (II), the moieties of formula (I) and the moieties of formula (II) possibly being identical to or different from each other.

According to one variant of the invention, it is also possible to use a copolymer furthermore comprising at least one hydrocarbon-based moiety comprising two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, chosen from ester, amide, sulphonamide, carbamate, thiocarbamate, urea and thiourea groups, and combinations thereof.

These copolymers may be block copolymers or grafted copolymers.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are amide groups of formulae —C(O)NH— and —HN—C(O)—.

In this case, the polyorganosiloxane may be a polymer comprising at least one moiety of formula (III) or (IV):

in which R1, R2, R3, R4, X, Y, m and n are as defined above.

Such a moiety may be obtained:

either by a condensation reaction between a silicone containing □, ω-carboxylic acid ends and one or more diamines, according to the following reaction scheme:

or by reaction of two molecules of □-unsaturated carboxylic acid with a diamine according to the following reaction scheme:

followed by the addition of a siloxane to the ethylenic unsaturations, according to the following scheme: CH2═CH—X1—CO—NH—Y—NH—CO—X1—CH═CH2

in which X1—(CH2)2— corresponds to X defined above and Y, R1, R2, R3, R4 and m are as defined above;

or by reaction of a silicone containing □,ω-NH2 ends and a diacid of formula HOOC—Y—COOH according to the following reaction scheme:

In these polyamides of formula (III) or (IV), m is preferably in the range from 1 to 700, more preferably from 15 to 500 and better still from 15 to 45, and n is in particular in the range from 1 to 500, preferably from 1 to 100 and better still from 4 to 25, X is preferably a linear or branched alkylene chain containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and in particular 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and Y is preferably an alkylene chain that is linear or branched or that possibly comprises rings and/or unsaturations, containing from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, in particular from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and better still from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, in particular 6 carbon atoms.

In formulae (III) and (IV), the alkylene group representing X or Y can optionally contain in its alkylene portion at least one of the following elements:

1) 1 to 5 amide, urea or carbamate groups,

2) a C5 or C6 cycloalkyl group, and

3) a phenylene group optionally substituted with 1 to 3 identical or different C1 to C3 alkyl groups.

In formulae (III) and (IV), the alkylene groups may also be substituted with at least one element chosen from the group consisting of:

a hydroxyl group,

a C3 to C8 cycloalkyl group,

one to three C1 to C40 allyl groups,

a phenyl group optionally substituted with one to three C1 to C3 alkyl groups,

a C1 to C3 hydroxyalkyl group, and

a C1 to C6 aminoalkyl group.

In these formulae (III) and (IV), Y may also represent:

in which R5 represents a polyorganosiloxane chain and T represents a group of formula:

in which a, b and c are, independently, integers ranging from 1 to 10, and R10 is a hydrogen atom or a group such as those defined for R1, R2, R3 and R4.

In formulae (III) and (IV), R1, R2, R3 and R4 preferably represent, independently, a linear or branched C1 to C40 alkyl group, preferably a CH3, C2H5, n-C3H7 or isopropyl group, a polyorganosiloxane chain or a phenyl group optionally substituted with one to three methyl or ethyl groups.

As has been seen previously, the polymer may comprise identical or different moieties of formula (III) or (IV).

Thus, the polymer may be a polyamide containing several moieties of formula (III) or (IV) of different lengths, i.e. a polyamide corresponding to the formula:

in which X, Y, n and R1 to R4 have the meanings given above, m1 and m2, which are different, are chosen in the range from 1 to 1 000, and p is an integer ranging from 2 to 300.

In this formula, the moieties may be structured to form either a block copolymer, or a random copolymer or an alternating copolymer. In this copolymer, the moieties may be not only of different lengths, but also of different chemical structures, for example containing different groups Y. In this case, the copolymer may correspond to the formula:

in which R1 to R4, X, Y, m1, m2, n and p have the meanings given above and Y1 is different from Y but chosen from the groups defined for Y. As previously, the various moieties may be structured to form either a block copolymer, or a random copolymer or an alternating copolymer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the polyorganosiloxane may also consist of a grafted copolymer. Thus, the polyamide containing silicone units may be grafted and optionally crosslinked with silicone chains containing amide groups. Such polymers may be synthesized with trifunctional amines.

In this case, the copolymer may comprise at least one moiety of formula:

in which X1 and X2, which may be identical or different, have the meaning given for X in formula (I), n is as defined in formula (I), Y and T are as defined in formula (I), R11 to R18 are groups chosen from the same group as R1 to R4, m1 and m2 are numbers in the range from 1 to 1 000, and p is an integer ranging from 2 to 500.

In formula (VII), it is preferred that:

p is in the range from 1 to 25 and better still from 1 to 7,

R11 to R18 are methyl groups,

T corresponds to one of the following formulae:

in which R19 is a hydrogen atom or a group chosen from the groups defined for R1 to R4, and R20, R21 and R22 are, independently, linear or branched alkylene groups, and more preferably corresponds to the formula:

in particular with R20, R21 and R22 representing —CH2—CH2—,

m1 and m2 are in the range from 15 to 500 and better still from 15 to 45,

X1 and X2 represent —(CH2)10—, and

Y represents —CH2—.

These polyamides containing a grafted silicone moiety of formula (VII) may be copolymerized with polyamide-silicones of formula (II) to form block copolymers, alternating copolymers or random copolymers. The weight percentage of grafted silicone moieties (VII) in the copolymer may range from 0.5% to 30% by weight.

According to the invention, the siloxane units may be in the main chain or backbone of the polymer, but they may also be present in grafted or pendent chains. In the main chain, the siloxane units may be in the form of segments as described above. In the pendent or grafted chains, the siloxane units may appear individually or in segments.

According to the invention, the preferred siloxane-based polyamides are:

polyamides of formula III in which m is from 15 to 50;

mixtures of two or more polyamides in which at least one polyamide has a value of m in the range from 15 to 50 and at least one polyamide has a value of m in the range from 30 to 50;

polymers of formula (V) with m1 chosen in the range from 15 to 50 and m2 chosen in the range from 30 to 500 with the portion corresponding to m1 representing 1% to 99% by weight of the total weight of the polyamide and the corresponding portion m2 representing 1% to 99% by weight of the total weight of the polyamide;

mixtures of polyamide of formula (III) combining

1) 80% to 99% by weight of a polyamide in which n is equal to 2 to 10 and in particular 3 to 6, and

2) 1% to 20% of a polyamide in which n is in the range from 5 to 500 and in particular from 6 to 100;

polyamides corresponding to formula (VI) in which at least one of the groups Y and Y1 contains at least one hydroxyl substituent;

polyamides of formula (III) synthesized with at least one portion of an activated diacid (diacid chloride, dianhydride or diester) instead of the diacid;

polyamides of formula (III) in which X represents —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)10; and

polyamides of formula (III) in which the polyamides end with a monofunctional chain chosen from the group consisting of monofunctional amines, monofunctional acids, monofunctional alcohols, including fatty acids, fatty alcohols and fatty amines, such as, for example, octylamine, octanol, stearic acid and stearyl alcohol.

According to the invention, the end groups of the polymer chain may end with:

a C1 to C50 alkyl ester group by introducing a C1 to C50 monoalcohol during the synthesis,

a C1 to C50 alkylamide group by taking as stopping group a monoacid if the silicone is □,ω-diaminated, or a monoamine if the silicone is an □,ω-dicarboxylic acid.

According to one embodiment variant of the invention, it is possible to use a copolymer of silicone polyamide and of hydrocarbon-based polyamide, i.e. a copolymer comprising moieties of formula (III) or (IV) and hydrocarbon-based polyamide moieties. In this case, the polyamide-silicone moieties may be arranged at the ends of the hydrocarbon-based polyamide.

Polyamide-based polyorganosiloxanes may be produced by silylic amidation of polyamides based on fatty acid dimer. This approach involves the reaction of free acid sites existing on a polyamide as end sites, with organosiloxane-monoamines and/or organosiloxane-diamines (amidation reaction), or alternatively with oligosiloxane alcohols or oligosiloxane diols (esterification reaction). The esterification reaction requires the presence of acid catalysts, as is known in the art. It is desirable for the polyamide containing free acid sites, used for the amidation or esterification reaction, to have a relatively high number of acid end groups (for example polyamides with high acid numbers, for example from 15 to 20).

For the amidation of the free acid sites of the hydrocarbon-based polyamides, siloxane diamines with 1 to 300, more particularly 2 to 50 and better still 2, 6, 9.5, 12, 13.5, 23 or 31 siloxane groups, may be used for the reaction with hydrocarbon-based polyamides based on fatty acid dimers. Siloxane diamines containing 13.5 siloxane groups are preferred, and the best results are obtained with the siloxane diamine containing 13.5 siloxane groups and polyamides containing high numbers of carboxylic acid end groups.

The reactions may be carried out in xylene to extract the water produced from the solution by azeotropic distillation, or at higher temperatures (about 180 to 200° C.) without solvent. Typically, the efficacy of the amidation and the reaction rates decrease when the siloxane diamine is longer, that is to say when the number of sildxane groups is higher. Free amine sites may be blocked after the initial amidation reaction of the diarninosiloxanes by reacting them either with a siloxane acid, or with an organic acid such as benzoic acid.

For the esterification of the free acid sites on the polyamides, this may be performed in boiling xylene with about 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the reagents, of para-toluenesulphonic acid as catalyst.

These reactions carried out on the carboxylic acid end groups of the polyamide lead to the incorporation of silicone moieties only at the ends of the polymer chain.

It is also possible to prepare a copolymer of polyamide-silicone, using a polyamide containing free amine groups, by amidation reaction with a siloxane containing an acid group.

It is also possible to prepare a polyorganosiloxane based on a copolymer between a hydrocarbon-based polyamide and a silicone polyamide, by transamidation of a polyamide having, for example, an ethylene-diamine constituent, with an oligosiloxane-□,ω-diamine, at high temperature (for example 200 to 300° C.), to carry out a transamidation such that the ethylenediamine component of the original polyamide is replaced with the oligosiloxane diamine.

The copolymer of hydrocarbon-based polyamide and of polyamide-silicone may also be a grafted copolymer comprising a hydrocarbon-based polyamide backbone with pendent oligosiloxane groups.

This may be obtained, for example:

by hydrosilylation of unsaturated bonds in polyamides based on fatty acid dimers;

by silylation of the amide groups of a polyamide; or

by silylation of unsaturated polyamides by means of an oxidation, that is to say by oxidizing the unsaturated groups into alcohols or diols, to form hydroxyl groups that are reacted with siloxane carboxylic acids or siloxane alcohols. The olefinic sites of the unsaturated polyamides may also be epoxidized and the epoxy groups may then be reacted with siloxane amines or siloxane alcohols.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the polyorganosiloxane consists of a homopolymer or a copolymer comprising urethane or urea groups.

As previously, the polymer may comprise polyorganosiloxane moieties containing two or more urethane and/or urea groups, either in the backbone of the polymer or on side chains or as pendent groups.

The polymers comprising at least two urethane and/or urea groups in the backbone may be polymers comprising at least one moiety corresponding to the following formula:

in which R1, R2, R3, R4, X, Y, m and n have the meanings given above for formula (I), and U represents —O— or —NH—, such that:

corresponds to a urethane or urea group.

In this formula (VIII), Y may be a linear or branched C1 to C40 alkylene group, optionally substituted with a C1 to C15 alkyl group or a C5 to C10 aryl group. Preferably, a —(CH2)6— group is used.

Y may also represent a C5 to C12 cycloaliphatic or aromatic group that may be substituted with a C1 to C15 alkyl group or a C5 to C10 aryl group, for example a radical chosen from the methylene-4,4-biscyclohexyl radical, the radical derived from isophorone diisocyanate, 2,4- and 2,6-tolylenes, 1,5-naphthylene, p-phenylene and 4,4′-biphenylenemethane. Generally, it is preferred for Y to represent a linear or branched C1 to C40 alkylene radical or a C4 to C12 cycloalkylene radical.

Y may also represent a polyurethane or polyurea block corresponding to the condensation of several diisocyanate molecules with one or more molecules of coupling agents of the diol or diamine type. In this case, Y comprises several urethane or urea groups in the alkylene chain.

It may correspond to the formula:

in which B1 is a group chosen from the groups given above for Y, U is —O— or —NH— and B2 is chosen from:

linear or branched C1 to C40 alkylene groups, which can optionally bear an ionizable group such as a carboxylic acid or sulphonic acid group, or a neutralizable or quaternizable tertiary amine group,

C5 to C12 cycloalkylene groups, optionally bearing alkyl substituents, for example one to three methyl or ethyl groups, or alkylene, for example the diol radical: cyclohexanedimethanol,

phenylene groups that may optionally bear C1 to C3 alkyl substituents, and groups of formula:

in which T is a hydrocarbon-based trivalent radical possibly containing one or more hetero atoms such as oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen and R5 is a polyorganosiloxane chain or a linear or branched C1 to C50 alkyl chain.

T can represent, for example:

with w being an integer ranging from 1 to 10 and R5 being a polyorganosiloxane chain.

When Y is a linear or branched C1 to C40 alkylene group, the —(CH2)2— and —(CH2)6— groups are preferred.

In the formula given above for Y, d may be an integer ranging from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 3 and more preferably equal to 1 or 2.

Preferably, B2 is a linear or branched C1 to C40 alkylene group, in particular —(CH2)2— or —(CH2)6— or a group:

with R5 being a polyorganosiloxane chain.

As previously discussed, the polyorganosiloxane may be formed from silicone urethane and/or silicone urea moieties of different length and/or constitution, and may be in the form of block or random copolymers.

According to the invention, the silicone may also comprise urethane and/or urea groups no longer in the backbone but as side branches.

In this case, the polymer may comprise at least one moiety of formula:

in which R1, R2, R3, m1 and m2 have the meanings given above for formula (I),

U represents O or NH,

R23 represents a C1 to C40 alkylene group, optionally comprising one or more hetero atoms chosen from O and N, or a phenylene group, and

R24 is chosen from linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated C1 to C50 alkyl groups, and phenyl groups optionally substituted with one to three C1 to C3 alkyl groups.

The polymers comprising at least one moiety of formula (X) contain siloxane units and urea or urethane groups, and they may be used as gelling agents in the compositions of the invention.

The siloxane polymers may have a single urea or urethane group by branching or may have branches containing two urea or urethane groups, or alternatively they may contain a mixture of branches containing one urea or urethane group and branches containing two urea or urethane groups.

They may be obtained from branched polysiloxanes, comprising one or two amino groups by branching, by reacting these polysiloxanes with monoisocyanates.

As examples of starting polymers of this type containing amino and diamino branches, mention may be made of the polymers corresponding to the following formulae:

In these formulae, the symbol “/” indicates that the segments may be of different lengths and in a random order, and R represents a linear aliphatic group preferably containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms and better still 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Such polymers containing branching may be formed by reacting a siloxane polymer, containing at least three amino groups per polymer molecule, with a compound containing only one monofunctional group (for example an acid, an isocyanate or an isothiocyanate) to react this monofunctional group with one of the amino groups and to form groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions. The amino groups may be on side chains extending from the main chain of the siloxane polymer, such that the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are formed on these side chains, or alternatively the amino groups may be at the ends of the main chain, such that the groups capable of hydrogen interaction will be end groups of the polymer.

As a procedure for forming a polymer containing siloxane units and groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, mention may be made of the reaction of a siloxane diamine and of a diisocyanate in a silicone solvent so as to provide a gel directly. The reaction may be performed in a silicone fluid, the resulting product being dissolved in the silicone fluid, at high temperature, the temperature of the system then being reduced to form the gel.

The polyorganosiloxanes that are preferred for incorporation into the compositions according to the present invention are siloxane-urea copolymers that are linear and that contain urea groups as groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions in the backbone of the polymer.

As an illustration of a polysiloxane ending with four urea groups, mention may be made of the polymer of formula:

in which Ph is a phenyl group and n is a number from 0 to 300, in particular from 0 to 100, for example 50.

This polymer is obtained by reacting the following polysiloxane containing amino groups:

with phenyl isocyanate.

The polymers of formula (VIII) comprising urea or urethane groups in the chain of the silicone polymer may be obtained by reaction between a silicone containing am-NH2 or —OH end groups, of formula:

in which m, R1, R2, R3, R4 and X are as defined for formula (I) and a diisocyanate OCN—Y—NCO in which Y has the meaning given in formula (I); and optionally a diol or diamine coupling agent of formula H2N—B2—NH2 or HO—B2—OH, in which B2 is as defined in formula (IX).

According to the stoichiometric proportions between the two reagents, diisocyanate and coupling agent, Y may have the formula (IX) with d equal to 0 or d equal to 1 to 5.

As in the case of the polyamide silicones of formula (II) or (III), it is possible to use in the invention polyurethane or polyurea silicones containing moieties of different length and structure, in particular moieties whose lengths differ by the number of silicone units. In this case, the copolymer may correspond, for example, to the formula:

in which R1, R2, R3, R4, X, Y and U are as defined for formula (VIII) and m1, m2, n and p are as defined for formula (V).

Branched polyurethane or polyurea silicones may also be obtained using, instead of the diisocyanate OCN—Y—NCO, a triisocyanate of formula:

A polyurethane or polyurea silicone containing branches comprising an organosiloxane chain with groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions is thus obtained. Such a polymer comprises, for example, a moiety corresponding to the formula:

in which X1 and X2, which are identical or different, have the meaning given for X in formula (I), n is as defined in formula (I), Y and T are as defined in formula (I), R11 to R18 are groups chosen from the same group as R1 to R4, m1 and m2 are numbers in the range from 1 to 1 000, and p is an integer ranging from 2 to 500.

As in the case of the polyamides, this copolymer can also comprise polyurethane silicone moieties without branching.

In another embodiment of the invention, the siloxane-based polyureas and polyurethanes that are preferred are:

polymers of formula (VIII) in which m is from 15 to 50;

mixtures of two or more polymers in which at least one polymer has a value of m in the range from 15 to 50 and at least one polymer has a value of m in the range from 30 to 50;

polymers of formula (XII) with m1 chosen in the range from 15 to 50 and m2 chosen in the range from 30 to 500 with the portion corresponding to m1 representing 1% to 99% by weight of the total weight of the polymer and the portion corresponding to m2 representing 1% to 99% by weight of the total weight of the polymer;

mixtures of polymer of formula (VIII) combining

1) 80% to 99% by weight of a polymer in which n is equal to 2 to 10 and in particular 3 to 6, and

2) 1% to 20% of a polymer in which n is in the range from 5 to 500 and in particular from 6 to 100,

copolymers comprising two moieties of formula (VIII) in which at least one of the groups Y contains at least one hydroxyl substituent;

polymers of formula (VIII) synthesized with at least one portion of an activated diacid (diacid chloride, dianhydride or diester) instead of the diacid;

polymers of formula (VIII) in which X represents —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)10—; and

polymers of formula (VIII) in which the polymers end with a multifunctional chain chosen from the group consisting of monofunctional amines, monofunctional acids, monofunctional alcohols, including fatty acids, fatty alcohols and fatty amines, such as, for example, octylamine, octanol, stearic acid and stearyl alcohol.

As in the case of the polyamides, copolymers of polyurethane or polyurea silicone and of hydrocarbon-based polyurethane or polyurea may be used in the invention by performing the reaction for synthesizing the polymer in the presence of an □,ω-difunctional block of non-silicone nature, for example a polyester, a polyether or a polyolefin.

As has been seen previously, polyorganosiloxanes consisting of homopolymers or copolymers of the invention may contain siloxane moieties in the main chain of the polymer and groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, either in the main chain of the polymer or at the ends thereof, or on side chains or branches of the main chain. This may correspond to the following five arrangements:

in which the continuous line is the main chain of the siloxane polymer and the squares represent the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions.

In case (1), the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are arranged at the ends of the main chain.

In case (2), two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are arranged at each of the ends of the main chain.

In case (3), the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are arranged within the main chain in repeating moieties.

In cases (4) and (5), these are copolymers in which the groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions are arranged on branches of the main chain of a first series of moieties that are copolymerized with moieties not comprising groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions. The values n, x and y are such that the polymer has the desired properties in terms of an agent for gelling fatty phases based on silicone oil.

As examples of polymers that may be used, mention may be made of the silicone polyamides obtained in accordance with Examples 1 and 2 of document U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,680.

The polyorganosiloxanes advantageously have a softening point from 20 to 130° C. Preferably, they have a softening point ranging from 65 to 130° C. and better still from 70° C. to 130° C.

The at least one liposoluble polymer may also be chosen from a polymer derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,313, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. These (meth)acrylate copolymers may be random, block or grafted. A variety of (meth)acrylate ester monomer repeat units may be used to make the polymer, including aliphatic esters of (meth)acrylic acid like those obtained with the esterification of (meth)acrylic acid with an aliphatic alcohol of 2 to 30, preferably 2 to 20, more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms. If desired, the aliphatic alcohol may have one or more hydroxy groups. Preferably, the polymer is made from ethylenically unsaturated monomer repeat units having the following general formula:

wherein R1 is COOM wherein M is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-30 straight or branched chain alkyl where the substituents are halogen or alkoxy.

Preferably, R1 is COOM where M is a C1-5 alkyl, and most preferably a branched chain C1-5 alkyl such as isobutyl.

Preferably the polymer derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers has a glass transition temperature of from −50 to 110° C., preferably from 0 to 70° C., more preferably 20 to 65° C., and contains at least one repeat unit which, if polymerized to a molecular weight average of about 20,000, has a glass transition temperature of about −50 to 110° C., preferably from 0 to 70° C., more preferably 20 to 65° C.; and has a molecular weight of about 5,000 to 300,000, preferably 5,000 to 50,000.

Preferably the polymer derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers is soluble in solvents such as paraffinic hydrocarbons, particularly isododecane. Most preferably, the polymer is in the form of a solution comprising 1-90% by weight polymer and 10-99% by weight solvent, where the solvent is preferably a paraffinic hydrocarbon, most preferably isododecane.

Examples of suitable monomer units which may be used to make the polymers derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers include, but are not limited to, those set forth below:

repeat unit

isobutyl (meth)acrylate

pentyl (meth)acrylate

2-methoxyethyl(meth)acrylate

propyl (meth)acrylate

hexyl (meth)acrylate

fluoro(meth)acrylate

2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate

Hexadecyl(meth)acrylate

Isonorbornyl(meth)acrylate

Cyclohexyl(meth)acrylate

Polyalkylene oxide (meth)acrylate

Aliphatic urethane (meth)acrylate

The polymers derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers can be prepared by conventional free radical polymerization techniques in which the monomer, solvent, and polymerization initiator are charged over a 1-24 hour period of time, preferably 2-8 hours, into a conventional polymerization reactor in which the constituents may be heated to about 60-175° C., preferably 80-100° C. The polymers derived from (meth)acrylate copolymers may also be made by emulsion polymerization or suspension polymerization using conventional techniques. Also, anionic polymerization or Group Transfer Polymerization (GTP) is another method by which the copolymers used in the invention may be made. GTP is well known in the art and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,414,372; 4,417,034; 4,508,880; 4,524,196; 4,581,428; 4,588,795; 4,598,161; 4,605,716; 4,605,716; 4,622,372; 4,656,233; 4,711,942; 4,681,918; and 4,822,859; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Preferably, the polymers used in the compositions of the invention are made by GTP procedures set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,588,795 and 4,605,716.

The at least one liposoluble polymer may also include those derived from silicone/(meth)acrylate copolymers, such as those as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,061,481, 5,219,560, and 5,262,087, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Also included are those derived from non-polar silicone copolymers comprising repeating units of at least one polar (meth)acrylate unit and vinyl copolymers grafted with at least one non-polar silicone chain. Non-limiting examples of such copolymers are acrylates/dimethicone copolymers such as those commercially available from Shin-Etsu, for example, the product sold under the tradename KP-545, or acrylates/stearyl acrylate/dimethicone acrylates copolymers, such as those commercially available from Shin-Etsu, for example, the product sold under the tradename KP-561, and acrylates/behenyl acrylate/dimethicone acrylates copolymer, such as those commercially available from Shin-Etsu, for example, the product sold under the tradename KP-562.

Further non-limiting examples include polymers comprising a backbone chosen from vinyl polymers, methacrylic polymers, and acrylic polymers and at least one chain chosen from pendant siloxane groups and pendant fluorochemical groups. Non-lirniting examples of such polymers comprise at least one unit derived from at least one A monomer, at least one unit derived from at least one C monomer, at least one unit derived from D monomers, and, optionally, at least one unit derived from at least one B monomer, wherein:

A, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from free-radically-polymerizable acrylic esters of at least one alcohol chosen from 1,1,-dihydroperfluoroalkanols, omega-hydridofluoroalkanols, fluoroalkylsulfonamido alcohols, cyclic fluoroalkyl alcohols, and fluoroether alcohols, and analogs of any of the foregoing at least one alcohols, and free-radically-polymerizable methacrylic esters of at least one alcohol chosen from 1,1,-dihydroperfluoroalkanols, omega-hydridofluoroalkanols, fluoroalkylsulfonamido alcohols, cyclic fluoroalkyl alcohols, and fluoroether alcohols, and analogs of any of the foregoing at least one alcohols;

B, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from reinforcing monomers which are copolymerizable with at least one A monomer;

C, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from monomers having the formula: X(Y)nSi(R)3-mZm wherein

X is chosen from vinyl groups which are copolymerizable with at least one A monomer and at least one B monomer,

Y is chosen from divalent allylene groups, divalent arylene groups, divalent alkarylene groups, and divalent aralkylene groups, wherein the groups comprise from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and further wherein the groups optionally further comprise at least one group chosen from ester groups, amide groups, urethane groups, and urea groups;

n is zero or 1;

m is a number ranging from 1 to 3;

R, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl groups, aryl groups, and alkoxy groups; and

Z, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from monovalent siloxane polymeric groups; and

D, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from free-radically-polymerizable acrylate copolymers and free-radically-polymerizable methacrylate copolymers. Such polymers and their manufacture are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,209,924 and 4,972,037, and WO 01/32737, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Further non-limiting examples include polymers comprising at least one A monomer, at least one C monomer, and at least one D monomer, wherein A, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from polymerizable acrylic esters of at least one fluoroalkylsulfonamido alcohol and polymerizable methacrylic esters of at least one fluoroalkylsulfonamido alcohol, D, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from methacrylic acid esters of at least one C1-C12 linear alcohol and methacrylic acid esters of at least one C1-C2 branched alcohol, and C is as defined above in paragraphs 115 to 123. Such polymers include polymers comprising at least one group of the formula:

Wherein a, b, and c, which may be identical or different, are each a number ranging from 1 to 100,000; and the terminal groups, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from C1-C20 linear alkyl groups, C3-C20 branched chain-alkyl groups, C3-C20 aryl groups, C1-C20 linear alkoxy groups, and C3-C20 branched alkoxy groups. Such polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,972,037, 5,061,481, 5,209,924, 5,849,275, and 6,033,650, and WO 93/23446 and WO 95/06078, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These polymers may be purchased from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the tradenames “Silicone Plus” polymers. For example, poly(isobutyl methacrylate-co-methyl FOSEA)-g-poly(dimethylsiloxane) is sold under the tradename SA 70-5 IBMMF.

Other non-limiting examples include silicone/acrylate graft terpolymers, for example, those having the formula:

Wherein a, b, and c are present in a weight ratio of 69.9:0.1:30 respectively, R and R1, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from hydrogen and C1-C6 alkyl groups; and m is a number ranging from 100-150.

According to preferred embodiments, m is chosen to provide a macromer having a molecular weight ranging from 8,000 to 12,000, such as 10,000. In another embodiment, m is a number ranging from 124-135, such as 130. Non-limiting examples of these copolymers are described in WO 01/32727 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

According to other preferred embodiments, the polymer comprises a backbone chosen from vinyl backbones, methacrylic backbones, and acrylic polymeric backbones and further comprises at least one pendant siloxane group. Non-limiting examples of such polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,693,935, 4,981,903, 4,981,902, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In preferred embodiments the polymer comprises at least one A monomer, at least one C monomer, and, optionally at least one B monomer, wherein the at least one A monomer is chosen from free-radically-polymerizable vinyl monomers, free-radically-polymerizable methacrylate monomers, and free-radically-polymerizable acrylate monomers; the at least one B monomer, if present, is chosen from at least one reinforcing monomer copolymerizable with the at least one A monomer, and the at least one C monomer is chosen from monomers having the formula: X(Y)nSi(R)3-mZm wherein: X is chosen from vinyl groups which are copolymerizable with the at least one A monomer and with the at least one B monomer; Y is chosen from divalent groups; n is zero or 1; m is a number ranging from 1 to 3; R, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C10 alkyl groups, optionally substituted phenyl groups, and optionally substituted C1-C10 alkoxy groups; and Z, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from monovalent siloxane polymeric groups.

Non-limiting examples of B monomers include acrylic monomers comprising at least one group chosen from hydroxyl, amino, and ionic groups, and methacrylic monomers comprising at least one group chosen from hydroxyl, amino, and ionic groups. Non-limiting examples of ionic groups include quaternary ammonium groups, carboxylate salts, and sulfonic acid salts.

The C monomers are as above defined above.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the polymer is chosen from vinyl-silicone graft copolymers having the following formula and vinyl-silicone block copolymers having the following formula:

R1, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from alkyl groups, aryl groups, aralkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkylamino groups, fluoroalkyl groups, hydrogen, and hydroxyl. In one embodiment, R1 is chosen from C1-C4 alkyl groups, such as methyl groups, and hydroxyl.

R2, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from divalent C1-C10 alkylene groups, divalent arylene groups, divalent aralkylene groups, and divalent alkoxyalkylene groups. In one embodiment, R2 is chosen from divalent C1-C3 alkylene groups and divalent C7-C10 aralkylene groups. In another embodiment, R2 is chosen from —CH2— groups and divalent 1,3-propylene groups.

R3, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from alkyl groups, aryl groups, aralkyl groups alkoxy groups, alkylamino groups, fluoroalkyl groups, hydrogen, and hydroxyl. In one embodiment, R3 is chosen from C1-C4 alkyl groups and hydroxyl. In another embodiment, R3 is chosen from methyl groups.

R4, which may be identical or different, are each chosen from divalent C1-C10 alkylene groups, divalent arylene groups, divalent aralkylene groups, and divalent alkoxyalkylene groups. In one embodiment, R4 is chosen from divalent C1-C3 alkylene groups and divalent C7-C10 aralkylene groups. In another embodiment, R4 is chosen from divalent —CH2— groups and divalent 1,3-propylene groups.

x is a number ranging from 0 to 3;

y is a number greater than or equal to 5. In an embodiment, y ranges from 10 to 270, and in another embodiment, y ranges from 40 to 270.

q is a number ranging from 0 to 3;

Non-limiting examples of these polymers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,477, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A non-limiting example of such polymers is poly(dimethylsiloxane)-g-poly(isobutyl methacrylate), which is commercially available from 3M Company under the tradename VS 70 IBM.

The liposoluble polymer is generally present in the cosmetic composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to 30% by weight, and most preferably from 1 to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Tackifiers

A substance is described as a tackifier if, by adding it to a liposoluble polymer, the resulting composition has the properties of a pressure sensitive adhesive. In general, tackifiers can be divided into four different families in terms of their chemistry: hydrocarbon resins, terpenes, amorphous (i.e. non-crystalline) rosins, rosin esters and their derivatives, and pure monomer resins. It should be noted, however, that in the event that the composition of the present invention is not a makeup product, and the at least one tackifier is a C2-6 polyolefin having a number average molecular weight of between 3,000 and 150,000, and the at least one liposoluble polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer, and the composition contains an oil chosen from mineral and synthetic oils, then the thermoplastic elastomer is present in the composition in an amount ranging from greater than 0.6 to 60% by weight, preferably greater than 0.7 to 60% by weight, and more preferably greater than 1 to 60% by weight, based on the weight of the oil. These tackifiers are characterized by their compatibility with at least one segment of the liposoluble polymer. By the term “compatible”, it is meant that when the liposoluble polymer and tackifier are mixed, the combination of at least one segment of the liposoluble polymer with the tackifier forms a polymer blend having a single glass transition temperature Tg which may be measured by DMA, DSC or neutron light scattering.

The compatibility of the liposoluble polymer and the tackifier may also be defined in terms of solubility parameters. The solubility parameter δ according to the Hansen solubility space is defined in the article “Solubility Parameter Values” by Eric A. Grulke in the work “Polymer Handbook,” 3rd edition, Chapter VII, pages 519-559, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference, by the relationship: δ=(dD2+dP2+dH2)1/2, in which:

dD characterizes the London dispersion forces resulting from the formation of dipoles induced during molecular impacts,

dP characterizes the forces of Debye interactions between permanent dipoles,

dH characterizes the forces of specific interactions (hydrogen bond, acid/base or donor/acceptor type and the like). The definition of the solvents in the three-dimensional solubility space according to Hansen is given in the article by C. M. Hansen: “The three-dimensional solubility parameters,” J. Paint Technol., 39, 105(1967), the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The at least one tackifier used in the present invention will have a solubility parameter corresponding to δ and the liposoluble polymer will have at least one segment whose solubility parameter corresponds to δ±2, preferably δ±1.7, more preferably δ±1.5, more preferably δ±1.3, more preferably δ±1.0, more preferably δ±0.7, more preferably δ±0.5, and more preferably δ±0.3.

Examples of suitable tackifiers, include, but are not limited to, aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, polycyclopentadiene resins, gum rosins, gum rosin esters, wood rosins, wood rosin esters, tall oil rosins, tall oil rosin esters, polyterpenes, aromatic modified polyterpenes, terpene phenolics, aromatic modified hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated aliphatic resin, hydrogenated aliphatic aromatic resins, hydrogenated terpenes and modified terpenes, hydrogenated rosin acids, hydrogenated rosin esters, polyisoprene, partially or fully hydrogenated polyisoprene, polybutenediene, partially or fully hydrogenated polybutenediene, and the like. As is evidenced by some of the cited examples, the tackifier may be fully or partially hydrogenated. The tackifier may also be non-polar. (Non-polar meaning that the tackifier is substantially free of monomers having polar groups. Preferably, the polar groups are not present, however, if they are present, they are preferably present in an amount of up to about 5% by weight, preferably up to about 2% by weight, and more preferably up to about 0.5% by weight.) In some embodiments the tackifier may have a softening point (Ring and Ball, as measured by ASTM E-28) of 80° C. to 150° C., preferably 100° C. to 130° C. In other embodiments the tackifier may be liquid and have an R and B softening point of between about −70 and 70° C.

In some embodiments, the tackifiers are hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins such as a hydrogenated styrene/methyl styrene/indene copolymer e.g., styrene/methyl styrene/indene copolymers which include R1090, R1100, R7100, S1100, and S5100, all which are commercially available from Eastman Chemical under the trade name Regalite®. In other embodiments, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon-based tackifying resins, for instance the resins sold under the name “Piccotac” and “Hercotac” from Hercules or “Escorez” from Exxon, may also be used. It is also to be understood that mixtures of tackifiers may also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the event that the tackifier chosen is a pure monomer resin such as, for example, polyisobutylene, then its average number molecular weight should be greater than 10,000, preferably greater than 25,000, more preferably greater than 50,000, more preferably greater than 75,000, more preferably greater than 100,000, more preferably greater than 125,000 and most preferably greater than 150,000.

The tackifier is present in the cosmetic composition of the present invention in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 90% by weight, preferably from about 1 to about 60% by weight, and more preferably from about 2 to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Solvents

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention also contain at least one solvent selected from volatile solvents and nonvolatile solvents. The expression “volatile organic solvent” means an organic solvent that is capable of evaporating at room temperature from a support onto which it has been applied, in other words a solvent which has a measurable vapor pressure at room temperature. See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,458, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Representative examples of volatile organic solvents include volatile hydrocarbon-based oils. The expression “hydrocarbon-based oil” means an oil containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms. Examples of volatile hydrocarbon-based oils include isoparaffins, i.e., branched alkanes containing from 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and in particular isododecane (also known as 2,2,4,4,6-pentamethylheptane). It is also possible to use mixtures of such isoparaffins. Other volatile hydrocarbon-based oils, such as petroleum distillates, can also be used. Other useful organic solvents include C1-C4 lower alkanols such as ethanol and isopropanol, glycerol, glycols and glycol ethers such as 2-butoxyethanol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and monomethyl ether, and aromatic alcohols such as benzyl alcohol or phenoxyethanol, similar products and mixtures thereof. See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,502, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Yet other examples of organic solvents include volatile silicones such as, for example, cyclic volatile silicone oils, such as cyclomethicone, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, linear volatile silicones such as octamethyltrisiloxane, heptamethylhexyltrisiloxane and heptamethyloctyltrisiloxane, or alternatively volatile fluoro oils such as nonafluoromethoxybutane or perfluoromethylcyclopentane.

Nonvolatile solvents which can be used in the invention include, but are not limited to, monoesters, diesters, triesters, mixed aliphatic and/or aromatic, polar oils such as: hydrocarbon-based oils of animal origin, such as perhydrosqualene; hydrocarbon-based plant oils such as liquid triglycerides of fatty acids and of glycerol, in which the fatty, acids may have varied chain lengths, these chains being linear or branched, and saturated or unsaturated; these oils can be chosen, for example, from wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, marrow oil, grapeseed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, sesame oil, hazelnut oil, apricot oil, macadamia oil, castor oil, avocado oil, karite butter, sweet almond oil, cotton oil, alfalfa oil, poppy oil, pumpkin oil, evening primrose oil, millet oil, barley oil, quinoa oil, olive oil, rye oil, safflower oil, candlenut oil, passion flower oil, musk rose oil and caprylic/capric acid triglycerides such as those sold by the company Stearineries Dubois or those sold under the names Miglyol 810, 812 and 818 by the company Dynamit Nobel; natural or synthetic esters of formula R1COOR2, wherein R1 is a higher fatty acid residue comprising 7 to 19 carbon atoms, and R2 is a branched hydrocarbon-based chain comprising 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as, for example, purcellin oil (cetostearyl octanoate), isopropyl myristate and alkyl or polyalkyl octanoates, decanoates or ricinoleates; synthetic ethers of formula R3COR4; wherein R3 is a C3 to C19 alkyl radical, and R4 is a C3 to C20 alkyl radical; fatty alcohols comprising at least 12 carbon atoms, such as octyldodecanol or oleyl alcohol; cyclic hydrocarbons such as (alkyl)cycloalkanes, wherein the alkyl chain is linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated and comprises 1 to 30 carbon atoms, such as cyclohexane or dioctyl-cyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbons, for example, alkenes such as benzene, toluene, 2,4dimethyl-3-cyclohexene, dipentene, p-cymene, naphthalene or anthracene, and esters such as isostearyl benzoate; primary, secondary or tertiary amines such as triethanolamine; and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, synthetic esters such as isopropyl myristate are used.

It may also be desirable to add one or more nonvolatile apolar solvents to the above polar nonvolatile solvents. Examples of suitable apolar solvents include, but are not limited to: silicone oils such as polydimethylsiloxanes that are liquid at room temperature, phenyldimethicones, phenyltrimethicones, polymethylphenylsiloxanes, alkylpolydimethylsiloxanes comprising a C2 to C20 alkyl chain, and mixtures thereof; and linear or branched hydrocarbons of synthetic or mineral origin, for example, nonvolatile liquid paraffins and derivatives thereof, petroleum jelly, polydecenes, hydrogenated polyisobutene such as parleam, and mixtures thereof. These apolar oils can be used as the sole nonvolatile solvent or in a mixture of nonvolatile solvents.

In the event that the composition is a waterproof mascara containing, as the at least one liposoluble polymer a thermoplastic elastomer having a styrene content of greater than 30% by weight, based on the weight of the elastomer, then a solvent and/or functional ingredient capable of dissolving a styrene block must also be present in the composition in order to enhance its ease of application onto eyelashes. One example thereof is a solvent containing at least one aromatic group such as alkyl benzoate. The specific solvent and/or functional ingredient, including the amount, to be used will depend on the type of cosmetic product being formulated and will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art of cosmetic formulation.

The solvent is present in the composition of the invention in an amount of from about 1 to about 95% by weight, preferably from about 5 to about 60% by weight, and more preferably from about 10 to about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Colorant

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention may also contain at least one cosmetically acceptable colorant such as a pigment or dyestuff. Examples of suitable pigments include, but are not limited to, inorganic pigments, organic pigments, pearlescent pigments, and mixtures thereof. A pigment should be understood to mean inorganic or organic, white or colored particles. Said pigments may optionally be surface-treated within the scope of the present invention but are not limited to treatments such as silicones, perfluorinated compounds, lecithin, and amino acids.

Representative examples of pearlescent pigments useful in the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of the white pearlescent pigments such as mica coated with titanium oxide, mica coated with titanium dioxide, bismuth oxychloride, titanium oxychloride, colored pearlescent pigments such as titanium mica with iron oxides, titanium mica with ferric blue, chromium oxide and the like, titanium mica with an organic pigment of the above-mentioned type as well as those based on bismuth oxychloride and mixtures thereof.

The precise amount and type of colorant employed in the compositions of the present invention will depend on the color, intensity and use of the cosmetic composition and, as a result, will be determined by those skilled in the art of cosmetic formulation.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to formulate cosmetic compositions in accordance with the present invention which are free of wax. However, in the event that a wax is employed, it will be present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Suitable waxes are those generally used in cosmetics and dermatology. Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, those of natural origin such as beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, Japan wax, cork fiber wax, sugar cane wax, paraffin wax, lignite wax, microcrystalline waxes, lanolin wax, montan wax, ozokerites and hydrogenated oils such as hydrogenated jojoba oil. Examples of suitable synthetic waxes include, but are not limited to, polyethylene waxes derived from the polymerization of ethylene, waxes obtained by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, fatty acid esters and glycerides that are solid at 40° C., for example, at above 55° C., silicone waxes such as alkyl- and alkoxy-poly(di)methylsiloxanes and/or poly(di)methyl-siloxane esters that are solid at 40° C., for example, at above 55° C.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise at least one cosmetically or dermatologically acceptable additive such as a thickener, a plasticizer, a film former, an antioxidant, an essential oil, a preserving agent, a fragrance, a filler, a pasty fatty substance, a waxy fatty substance, a neutralizing agent, and a polymer, e.g., a liposoluble polymer, and cosmetically active agents and/or dermatological active agents such as, for example, emollients, moisturizers, vitamins, essential fatty acids and medicaments.

The compositions of the invention may also be optionally thickened with an oil-phase thickener or at least one agent useful for gelling a liquid fatty phase. The thickening agent increases the liquid fatty phase viscosity and leads to a solid or flowable composition when introduced in said fatty phase. The thickening agent does not encompass waxes, in the sense that it is not waxy. The at least one gelling agent may be chosen from gelling agents in polymeric form and gelling agents in mineral form. The gelling agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of agents that gel via chemical reticulation and agents that gel via physical reticulation.

Modified clays may be used as gelling agents, examples of which include, but are not limited to, hectorites modified with an ammonium chloride of a C10 to C22 fatty acid, such as hectorite modified with distearyldimethylammonium chloride, also known as quaternium-18 bentonite, such as the products sold or made under the names Bentone 34 by the company Rheox, Claytone XL, Claytone 34 and Claytone 40 sold or made by the company Southern Clay, the modified clays known under the name quaternium-18 benzalkonium bentonites and sold or made under the names Claytone HT, Claytone GR and Claytone PS by the company Southern Clay, the clays modified with stearyldimethylbenzoylammonium chloride, known as steralkonium bentonites, such as the products sold or made under the names Claytone APA and Claytone AF by the company Southern Clay, and Baragel 24 sold or made by the company Rheox.

As other mineral gelling agents, which can be used in the invention, mention may be made of silica, such as fumed silica. The fumed silica may have a particle size, which may be nanometric to micrometric, for example ranging from about 5 nm to 200 nm.

The fumed silicas may be obtained by high-temperature hydrolysis of a volatile silicon compound in a hydrogen-oxygen flame, producing a finely divided silica. This process makes it possible to obtain hydrophilic silicas that have a large number of silanol groups at their surface. Such hydrophilic silicas are sold or made, for example, under the names “Aerosil 130®”, “Aerosil 200®”, “Aerosil 255®”, “Aerosil 300®” and “Aerosil 380®” by the company Degussa, and “CAB-O-SIL HS-5®”, “CAB-O-SIL EH-5®”, “CAB-O-SIL LM-130®”, “CAB-O-SIL MS-55®” and “CAB-O-SIL M-5®” by the company Cabot.

It is thus possible to chemically modify the surface of the hydrophilic silica by chemical reaction, producing a reduction in the number of silanol groups. The silanol groups can be replaced, for example, with hydrophobic groups: this then gives a hydrophobic silica. The hydrophobic groups may be: trimethylsiloxyl groups, which are obtained in particular by treating fumed silica in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane. Silicas thus treated are known as “silica silylate” according to the CTFA (6th edition, 1995). They are sold or made, for example, under the references “Aerosil R812®” by the company Degussa and “CAB-O-SIL TS-530®” by the company Cabot; dimethylsilyloxyl or polydimethylsiloxane groups, which are obtained in particular by treating fumed silica in the presence of polydimethylsiloxane or dimethyldichlorosilane. Silicas thus treated are known as “silica dimethyl silylate” according to the CTFA (6th edition, 1995). They are sold or made, for example, under the references “Aerosil R972®” and “Aerosil R974®” by the company Degussa, and “CAB-O-SIL TS-610®” and “CAB-O-SIL TS-720®” by the company Cabot; groups derived from reacting fumed silica with silane alkoxides or siloxanes. These treated silicas are, for example, the products sold or made under the reference “Aerosil R805®” by the company Degussa.

According to the invention, hydrophobic silica, such as fumed silica, may be used as lipophilic gelling agent. The use of fumed silica makes it possible to obtain a translucent or even transparent composition, in particular in the form of a stick, which does not exude, in the absence of opacifying particles such as waxes, fillers and pigments (including nacres).

The at least one liposoluble gelling agent can allow the exudation of the composition to be limited and can allow its stability to be increased, while at the same time conserving the composition's glossy appearance, which is not possible with waxes such as those used conventionally in cosmetics and dermatology.

Other examples of water-soluble thickeners include xanthan gum, carob gum, scleroglucan gum, gellan gum, rhamsan gum and karaya gum, alginates, maltodextrin, polysaccharide resins such as starch and its derivatives, hyaluronic acid and its salts, clays, and, in particular, montmorillonites, hectorites, bentonites, and laponites, crosslinked polyacrylic acids, such as the “Carbopol” products from the company Goodrich, the polyglyceryl (meth)acrylate polymers sold under the names “Hispagel” or “Lubragel” by the companies Hispano Quimica or Guardian, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol, crosslinked acrylamide polymers and copolymers, such as those sold under the names “PAS 5161” or “Bozepol C” by the company Hoechst, “Sepigel 305” by the company SEPPIC, crosslinked methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylarnmonium chloride homopolymers sold under the name “Salcare SC95” by the company Allied Colloid, and associative polymers and, in particular, associative polyurethanes.

The at least one thickening/gelling agent, if used, will typically be present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight, and more preferably from about 1 to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

While the use of a plasticizer is not necessary in the cosmetic compositions of the present invention, its use may, at times, be desirable. Plasticizers are organic compounds added to a high polymer both to facilitate processing and to increase the flexibility and toughness of the final product by internal modification of the polymer molecule. Examples of plasticizers include, but are not limited to, oils, cellulose esters, phthalate esters, adipate esters, sebacate esters, ethylene glycol, tricresyl phosphate, and castor oil. Representative examples of plasticizers which may be included are glycol ethers, benzyl alcohol, triethyl citrate, 1,3-butylene glycol and propylene carbonate. A plasticizer, if used, will typically be present in an amount of from about 1 to about 70% by weight, preferably from about 2 to about 50% by weight, and more preferably from about 5 to about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

The additional polymer, if used, will be present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 15% by weight, and most preferably from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Representative examples of preservatives include alkyl para-hydroxybenzoates, wherein the alkyl radical has from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms and preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms e.g., methyl para-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben), ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate (ethylparaben), propyl para-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben), butyl para-hydroxybenzoate (butylparaben) and isobutyl para-hydroxybenzoate (isobutylparaben). Mixtures of preservatives may certainly be used, e.g., the mixture of methyl-paraben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben sold under the name Nipastat by Nipa, and the mixture of phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben sold under the name Phenonip, also by Nipa. These preservatives may be present in amounts ranging from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to about 5% by weight, and more preferably from about 0.8 to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Fillers that may be used in the compositions of the invention include, for example, silica powder; talc; polyamide particles and especially those sold under the name Orgasol by the company Atochem; polyethylene powders; microspheres based on acrylic copolymers, such as those based on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate/lauryl methacrylate copolymer sold by the company Dow Corning under the name Polytrap; expanded powders such as hollow microspheres and especially the microspheres sold under the name Expancel by the company Kemanord Plast or under the name Micropearl F 80 ED by the company Matsumoto; powders of natural organic materials such as crosslinked or noncrosslinked corn starch, wheat starch or rice starch, such as the powders of starch crosslinked with octenyl succinate anhydride, sold under the name Dry-Flo by the company National Starch; silicone resin microbeads such as those sold under the name Tospearl by the company Toshiba Silicone; clays (bentone, laponite, saponite, etc.) and mixtures thereof. These fillers may be present in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about 50% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to about 30% by weight, and more preferably from about 1 to about 20% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a safe and effective amount of at least one active ingredient or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The term “safe and effective amount” as used herein, means an amount sufficient to modify the condition to be treated or to deliver the desired skin benefit, while at the same time avoiding serious side effects, at a reasonable benefit to risk ratio within the scope of sound medical judgment. What is a safe and effective amount of the active ingredient will vary with the specific active agent, the ability of the active agent to penetrate through the skin, the age, health and skin condition of the user, and other like factors. Typically, the active ingredient may be present in amounts ranging from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to about 10% by weight, and more preferably from about 0.5 to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

The active ingredients useful herein can be categorized by their therapeutic benefit or their postulated mode of action. However, it is to be understood that the active ingredients useful herein can in some instances provide more than one therapeutic benefit or operate via more than one mode of action. Therefore, classifications herein are made for the sake of convenience and are not intended to limit the active ingredient to that particular application or applications listed. Also, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these active ingredients are useful herein. The following active ingredients are useful in the compositions of the present invention.

Anti-Acne Actives: Examples of useful anti-acne actives include the keratolytics such as salicylic acid (o-hydroxybenzoic acid), derivatives of salicylic acid such as 5-octanoyl salicylic acid, and resorcinol; retinoids such as retinoic acid and its derivatives (e.g., cis and trans); sulfur-containing D and L amino acids and their derivatives and salts, particularly their N-acetyl derivatives, a preferred example of which is N-acetyl-L-cysteine; lipoic acid; antibiotics and antimicrobials such as benzoyl peroxide, octopirox, tetracycline, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy diphenyl ether, 3,4,4′-trichlorobanilide, azelaic acid and its derivatives, phenoxyethanol, phenoxypropanol, phenoxyisopropanol, ethyl acetate, clindamycin and meclocycline; sebostats such as flavonoids; and bile salts such as scymnol sulfate and its derivatives, deoxycholate, and cholate.

The cosmetic compositions of this invention may also contain sunscreens, which are chemical absorbers that actually absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is well known that chemical absorbers are classified, depending on the type of radiation they protect against, as either UV-A or UV-B absorbers. UV-A absorbers generally absorb radiation in the 320 to 400 nm region of the ultraviolet spectrum. UV-A absorbers include anthranilates, benzophenones, and dibenzoyl methanes. UV-B absorbers generally absorb radiation in the 280 to 320 nm region of the ultraviolet spectrum. UV-B absorbers include p-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, camphor derivatives, cinnamates, and salicylates.

Classifying the chemical absorbers generally as UV-A or UV-B absorbers is accepted within the industry. However, a more precise classification is one based upon the chemical properties of the sunscreens. There are eight major classifications of sunscreen chemical properties, and that are discussed at length in “Sunscreens—Development, Evaluation and Regulatory Aspects,” by N. Shaath et al., 2nd. Edition, pages 269-273, Marcel Dekker, Inc. (1997).

The sunscreens useful in the present invention typically comprise chemical absorbers, but may also comprise physical blockers. Exemplary sunscreens which may be formulated into the compositions of the present invention are chemical absorbers such as p-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, anthranilates, benzophenones, camphor derivatives, cinnamic derivatives, dibenzoyl methanes (such as avobenzone also known as Parsol®1789), diphenylacrylate derivatives, salicylic derivatives, triazine derivatives, benzimidazole compounds, bis-benzoazolyl derivatives, methylene bis-(hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole) compounds, the sunscreen polymers and silicones, or mixtures thereof. These are variously described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,463,264, 4,367,390, 5,166,355 and 5,237,071 and in EP 863,145, EP 517,104, EP 570,838, EP 796,851, EP 775,698, EP 878,469, EP 933,376, EP 893,119, EP 669,323, GB 2,303,549, DE 1,972,184 and WO 93/04665, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Also exemplary of the sunscreens which may be formulated into the compositions of this invention are physical blockers such as cerium oxides, chromium oxides, cobalt oxides, iron oxides, red petrolatum, silicone-treated titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and/or zirconium oxide, or mixtures thereof.

A wide variety of sunscreens is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,445; 5,073,372; and Chapter VIII of Cosmetics and Science and Technology (1957) by Segarin et al., pages 189 et seq, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

dispersed 2,2′-methylene-bis-[6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol] such as that marketed under the trademark MIXXIM BB/100 by Fairmount Chemical, or micronized in dispersed form thereof such as that were marketed under the trademark TINOSORB M by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. (Tarrytown, N.Y.), and

solubilized 2,2′-methylene-bis-[6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(methyl)phenol] such as that marketed under the trademark MIXXM BB/200 by Fairmount Chemical.

Typically combinations of one of more of these sunscreens are used.

The dibenzoyl methane derivatives other than avobenzone are described, for example, in FR 2,326,405, FR 2,440,933 and EP 114,607.

Other dibenzoyl methane sunscreens other than avobenzone include (whether singly or in any combination):

2-methyldibenzoylmethane

4-methyldibenzoylmethane

4-isopropyldibenzoylmethane

4-tert-butyldibenzoylmethane

2,4-dimethyldibenzoylmethane

2,5-dimethyldibenzoylmethane

4,4′-diisopropyldibenzoylmethane

4,4′-dimethoxydibenzoylmethane

2-methyl-5-isopropyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane

2-methyl-5-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane

2,4-dimethyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane

2,6-dimethyl-4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane

Additional sunscreens that can be used are described in pages 2954-2955 of the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook (9th ed. 2002).

The composition of the invention may be in the form of a makeup product for the skin, in particular a foundation, optionally having care or treating properties, a blusher, a face powder, a bronzer, an eyeshadow, a concealer product, an eyeliner, a makeup product for the body; a makeup product for the lips such as a lipstick, a lip gloss or a lip pencil optionally having care or treating properties; a makeup product for integuments such as the eyelashes and the hair, in particular a mascara, an eyebrow makeup, or for the nails. The composition of the invention may also be in the form of temporary tattoos. Beyond that, they may be anhydrous in nature or comprise both oil and aqueous phases, in which case, the compositions may form emulsions/suspensions (e.g., oil-in-water, water-in-oil, and multiple emulsions), and are formulated into products such as creams, lotions and gels.

The compositions of the present invention may also be defined by their characteristic time “τc” which is determined using the equation: τc=η(tcreep)·R(trecovery), wherein:

tcreep=20 minutes;

trecovery=20 minutes;

η(tcreep)=creep viscosity=tcreep/J(tcreep);

J(tcreep)=γ(tcreep)/σ0=(measured strain at time tcreep of 20 minutes) divided by (applied stress of 2 Pa);

R(trecovery)=measured recoverable compliance, in the absence of stress, for a period of 20 minutes.

Since characteristic time is a function of creep viscosity and recoverable compliance, the instrument used to measure the creep compliance and recoverable compliance of a sample composition is a controlled stress rheometer, such as an AR 2000, commercially available from TA Instruments, New Castle, Del., having a parallel plate geometry of a diameter of 40 mm, with the gap set at 1 mm.

When measuring creep compliance and recoverable compliance, the sample composition is first loaded into the parallel plate of the rheometer, set at a temperature of 25° C., followed by the steps of:

(a) measuring creep compliance J(tcreep) by applying a constant stress (σ0=2 Pa) for a period of 20 minutes (tcreep=20 minutes); and

(b) measuring recoverable compliance R(trecovery) for a period of 20 minutes, in the absence of stress, for a total experimental time of tcreep+trecovery=40 minutes.

In general, compositions in accordance with the present invention which are in liquid- to paste-form will possess a characteristic time of from 0.01 to 1200 seconds, preferably from 0.1 to 1000 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 800 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 700 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 600 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 500 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 400 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 300 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 200 seconds, more preferably from 0.1 to 100 seconds, more preferably from 1 to 50 seconds, and more preferably from 1 to 10 seconds.

Mascaras of the present invention may be washable or waterproof. Washable mascaras can be removed simply by use of soap and water. Waterproof mascaras are not as easily removable, and require use of oil such as mineral oil. Washable or aqueous mascaras generally come in the form of an emulsion of waxes in water (sometimes referred to as cream mascaras), or gels, whereas waterproof mascaras generally come in the form of dispersions of a fatty phase that includes one or more waxes in organic solvents (which when lacking water are sometimes referred to as anhydrous mascaras), or water-in-oil emulsions (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,668). Washable mascaras and waterproof mascaras may contain many similar ingredients (e.g., waxes and film-forming polymers), the main differences between them being in the relative amounts of the ingredients, particularly water. Generally, water content of washable mascaras ranges from about 20 to about 80% by weight, and preferably from about 30 to about 60% by weight of the mascara composition. In contrast, water content of waterproof mascaras generally ranges from about 0 to about 60% by weight, and preferably from about 0 to about 35% by weight of the mascara composition. One or more water-miscible solvents may also be present in either type of mascara. Examples include lower monoalcohols containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, C3-C4 ketones and C3-C4 aldehydes. A preferred water-miscible solvent is ethanol. The content of water-miscible solvents generally ranges from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, and preferably from about 1% to about 8% by weight relative to the total weight of the mascara composition.

Washable and waterproof mascaras usually have different viscosities. Viscosity is important from the standpoints of fast and easy application of the composition, as well as uniform coating over the entire length of the eyelashes. Generally, viscosity of washable mascaras ranges from about 10 to about 60 Pascal seconds (Pa*s), and preferably from about 20 to about 40 Pa*s, whereas viscosity of waterproof mascaras ranges from about 10 to about 70 Pa*s, and preferably from about 10 to about 40 Pa*s. Viscosity is measured at 25° C. with a Rheomat RM 180 viscometer fitted with a No. 4 rotor, wherein the measurement is carried out after spinning the rotor for 10 minutes (after which time stabilization of the viscosity and of the rotor spin speed are observed), at a shear rate of 200 s−1. Viscosity may be adjusted by adding a thickener as disclosed herein.

Mascaras and other eye make-up of the present invention may further contain fibers. The fibers useful in the present invention may be chosen from natural and synthetic fibers. Natural fibers include, but are not limited to, cotton, silk, wool, and other keratin fibers. Synthetic fibers include, but are not limited to, polyester, rayon, nylon and other polyamide fibers.

Yet other fibers useful in the present invention include those described in EP 1172078. The fibers disclosed in this publication include types of elastofibers. These fibers are chemical fibers, extremely stretchable, and which regain their primary shape as soon as the tractive force is interrupted. Representative examples include elastane (abbreviations: EL or Spandex®), highly polymerized fibers, which contain at least 85% by weight of segmented polyurethane, and elastodiene fibers (abbreviation: ED) containing synthetic polyisoprenes or high polymers, which are obtained from the polymerization of one or more dienes, by optionally adding one or several vinyl monomers. Rubbery fibers (abbreviation: LA) issued from natural rubber may also be included in the second group. The elastodienes are often vulcanized. A fiber composed of both polyamide and polyurethane also has elastic properties.

The fibers may be present in amounts ranging from about 0.01 to about 30% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to about 15% by weight, and more preferably from about 0.2 to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. The fibers typically have an average length ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 4.0 mm, such as from about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

The present invention is further described in terms of the following non-limiting examples. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are on a weight-by-weight percentage basis.

Isododecane was weighed out in the main beaker, with initiation of heating to 85° C. While beating, Kraton (Styrene Block Copolymer) was added and mixed until the solution was clear. The hydrocarbon resin was then added until the resulting mixture became clear. Once the batch was clear, the black iron oxide was added and mixed for 60 minutes under homogenization. After the 1 hour of homogenization, quaternium-18 hectorite was added and mixed for 15 minutes or until the batch was uniform. Phase B (propylene carbonate) was then added to the main beaker and homogenizing was continued for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature at 80-85° C. The batch was removed from the homogenizer followed by cooling to 60° C. using sweep mixing. At 60° C., phase C ingredient phenoxyethanol) was added while mixing until a temperature of 30-35° C. was reached.

Phase A ingredients except the bentone gel, were mixed together into a beaker, which was then transferred to a 90° C. oil bath and mixed with a propeller mixer until the resins completely melted, followed by adding the bentone gel to the beaker with continued mixing until the system was uniform. Phase B ingredients were mixed together with Phase A. The resulting mixture was transferred to a Disconti Ball Mill and milled for about 40 minutes. The mixture was then transferred into a beaker, to which Phase C ingredients were added and a propeller mixer at room temperature was used until the mixture was uniform. The resulting fluid was transferred to individual packages.

Example 3

The following formulation was used to illustrate the method of calculating characteristic time τc using an AR 2000 controlled stress rheometer, having a parallel plate geometry diameter of 40 mm, and a gap set at 1 mm. The rheological measurements were performed at a temperature of 25° C.

Ingredient% by weight

Kraton ® 1657M10Regalite ® R110020Polyisobutene70 (MW 320)

The viscosity was determined from the creep curve J(t) from FIG. 1 by plotting Log (t/J(t)) versus t as shown in FIG. 2. The value of viscosity η(t) at t=20 minutes is 794.8 Pa·s. The recoverable creep compliance R(t) at t=20 minutes in FIG. 1 has a value R(t)=8.96×10−3 Pa−. Therefore the characteristic time of the composition of Example 3 is calculated using the equation: τc=η(t). R(t)=(794.8 Pa·s)×(8.96×10−Pa−1)=7.12 s

Claims

1. A cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) at least one tackifier component comprising a styrene/methylstyrene/indene copolymer;

(d) optionally, at least one colorant, with the proviso that, if the cosmetic composition is a waterproof mascara, and the at least one liposoluble polymer has a styrene content of greater than 30% by weight, based on the weight of the elastomer, then the composition also contains at least one solvent or functional ingredient capable of dissolving a styrene block,

wherein the composition has a measurable creep viscosity at 25° C.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one tackifier component is present in the composition in an amount of from 2 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition has a characteristic time of from 0.01 to 1200 seconds.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition has a characteristic time of from 0.1 to 500 seconds.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition has a characteristic time of from 1 to 50 seconds.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one liposoluble polymer is present in the composition in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the solvent is present in the composition in an amount of from 10 to 50% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one solvent is isododecane.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is chosen from a mascara and a makeup product used to treat lips.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a styrene-butylene/ethylene-styrene copolymer.

11. The cosmetic composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one solvent comprises polyisobutene.

12. A process for treating a keratinous substrate comprising contacting the substrate with the composition of claim 1.

13. A cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) from 2 to 40% by weight of at least one styrene/methyl styrene/indene copolymer;

(b) from 1 to 20% by weight of at least one thermoplastic elastomer chosen from a di-block rubber elastomer, a tri-block rubber elastomer, or a combination thereof;

(c) from 10 to 50% by weight of at least one solvent; and

(d) at least one colorant, all weights being based on the weight of the composition,

wherein the composition has a measurable creep viscosity at 25° C.

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the composition is chosen from a mascara and a makeup product used to treat lips.

15. The composition of claim 13 wherein the composition has a characteristic time of from 0.1 to 500 seconds.